Do your hearing aid batteries seem to drain quicker than they ought to? Here are a few unexpected reasons that might occur.
So how long should the charge on my hearing aid battery last? The standard hearing aid battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 days.
That’s a very wide range. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious situation.
You could be on day 4 at the grocery store. Suddenly, things get quiet. The cashier is talking to you but you can’t hear what they are saying.
Or it’s day 5. You’re appreciating a night out with friends. All of a sudden, you can’t hear the conversation and it’s leaving you feeling quite alone.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to see a play. And the children’s singing goes quiet. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, occasionally they even drain before the 3rd day.
It isn’t simply inconvenient. You’re losing out on life because you don’t know how much juice you have left in your hearing aids.
Here are 7 likely causes if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.
Moisture can kill a battery
Producing moisture through our skin is one thing that humans do that most other species don’t. You do it to cool down. It also helps clear the blood of unwanted toxins and sodium. On top of this, you may live in a rainy humid environment where things get even wetter.
The air vent in your device can become clogged by this extra moisture which can cause less efficient performance. It can even interact with the chemicals that produce electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Avoid battery drain caused by moisture using these steps:
- Use a dehumidifier
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for a prolonged time period, take out the batteries
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
- Open the battery door before you store your hearing aids
Sophisticated modern features are power intensive
Even a decade ago, hearing aids were much less helpful for people with hearing loss than modern devices. But when these sophisticated functions are being used, they can be a draw on battery power.
Don’t stop using your favorite features. But just know that if you stream music all day from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to change the battery sooner.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these extra functions can drain your battery.
Batteries can be impacted by altitude changes
Going from a low to high altitude can sap your batteries, especially if they’re low already. Be certain that you bring some spares if you’re in the mountains or on a plane.
Maybe the batteries aren’t actually drained
Many hearing aids will alert you when the batteries need to be replaced. As a general rule, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. They aren’t telling you the battery is dead. In addition, you may get a warning when the charge drops due to an altitude or humidity change.
Take the hearing aids out and reset them to quiet the alarm. You may be able to get several more hours or even days from that battery.
Improper handling of batteries
You shouldn’t pull off the little tab from the battery if you’re not ready to use it. Hand oil or dirt can be an issue for batteries so wash up before handling them. Keep your batteries out of the freezer. This might increase the life of other batteries but it doesn’t work with hearing aid batteries.
Simple handling errors like these can make hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Buying a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a good idea
Buying in bulk is usually a smart money decision when you can afford to do it. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last few batteries most likely won’t last as long. Try to limit yourself to a 6-month supply or less unless you’re fine with the waste.
internet battery vendors
We’re not claiming it’s automatically a bad idea to purchase things on the internet. You can get some great deals. But you will also find some less honest vendors who will sell batteries that are near to or even past their expiration date.
Most types of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. When you purchase milk, you wouldn’t forget to check the date it expires. The same goes with batteries. If you want to get the most from your battery, make sure the date is well into the future.
If the website doesn’t declare an expiration date, send the online vendor a message, or purchase batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid center where you can see it on the packaging. Only buy batteries from reputable sources.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no more
There are numerous reasons that hearing aid batteries may drain quickly. But by taking little precautions you can get more power out of each battery. And if you’re considering an upgrade, think about rechargeable hearing aids. You dock these hearing aids on a charger every night for an entire day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only need to be replaced every few years.